St John's College News
Hutton Prize
Hutton PrizeA prize will be awarded for the best short dissertation or essay, not more than 10,000 words in length, on a subject in English History.The competition is open to members of the College who are Undergraduates in their third term of residence when the competition is advertised, usually in June. The deadline for submissions is usually at the beginning of October.read moreThe Master's Prizes
The Master's PrizesUp to three prizes of £300 are awarded for writings, on any subject, in prose or in verse, published or unpublished.The award is open to all members of the College who are Undergraduates (including affiliated students) when the prizes are advertised, usually in November.Candidates may submit either writings on a subject of their choice, or works of scholarship or the results of any research they…read moreDr Matthias Dörrzapf
Dr Matthias DörrzapfDr Matthias Dörrzapf is the Director of International Programmes. He is also the Director of Studies in Mathematics. Dr Dörrzapf has a PhD in Mathematics from Queens' College, Cambridge. Before he joined St. John's College he had a postdoctoral research position at the Lyman Laboratory of Physics at Harvard University. He obtained his undergraduate qualifications in Mathematics and…read morePart IA Vector Calculus
Part IA Vector CalculusA list of resources can be found below.Tensors revision questions Part IB exams 2005, paper 4, question 16 Part IB exams 2004, paper 1, question 6 Part IB exams 2004, paper 2, question 17 Part IB exams 2003, paper 2, question 2 Part IB exams 2003, paper 2, question 11 Part IB exams 2002, paper 2, question 2 Part IB exams 1999, paper 2, question 11 Part IB exams 1998, paper 4, question 2…read moreUndergraduate Academic Research Projects
Undergraduate Academic Research ProjectsA number of grants from College funds are available to support undergraduate academic research projects or academic Summer Schools related to their courses, to be undertaken in the Long Vacation at a University, including Cambridge, or other approved academic institutions. All undergraduate students, including finalists, are eligible. Undergraduates may make one application per year and funding…read moreHistory - Tom Muir
History - Tom MuirOriginally from Manchester, Tom attended the state school, Crompton House, where he completed A-Levels in English Literature, History, Biology and Chemistry. Gaining a first in History, he will be starting work at Nomura International in September 2009.'Enormous weekly reading lists and a lower emphasis on lectures can make studying History at Cambridge a fairly independent environment. That…read moreHistory - Sarah Evans
History - Sarah EvansOriginally from Stockport, Sarah studied for A Levels in Ancient History, English Literature, Philosophy and French at Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College, before coming to St John’s in 2006. Graduating with a 2:1 in 2009, she also read for an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies at St John’s, gaining a Distinction. She is currently reading for a PhD at University of the West of England,…read moreHistory - Jenny Morgan
History - Jenny MorganJenny took a gap year before coming to St John’s, during which time she was based with a professional horse rider and competed internationally in the sport of Three-Day-Eventing. She continued riding throughout her degree and captained the University Equestrian team, as well as editing the student newspaper and playing college hockey. Having graduated with a Double First in 2010, she undertook a…read moreComputer Science - Alex Davies
Computer Science - Alex DaviesAlex studied Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths at A-Level. He is now working as a software engineer in Cambridge. 'The original reason I chose to apply to John's was very simple, it is between the centre of town and the computer lab. In fact, it turned out to be an excellent choice, for so many reasons. The computer scientists are a friendly group, and we have a lively society…read moreCorfield Court
Corfield CourtThe opening of Corfield Court (located within the triangular site formed by Bridge Street, St John's Street and All Saints' Passage) on 21 July 2009 was a notable event in the history of St John’s. Not only is the College now able to offer some exceptional graduate accommodation and teaching sets, the day also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the vision and generosity of Nick Corfield…read moreThe College Gardens
The College GardensIn Tudor times the landscape of St John's was strikingly different from today. On part of the present site of New Court and the Cripps Building lay fish ponds which had once served the brethren of the Hospital of St John. To the south of these, where the sandy Broad Walk now crosses St John's Meadow, was the Close, surrounded by trees and ditches. Beyond the ditch at the western edge of the…read moreThe Library
The LibraryThere has been a Library at St John's ever since the College's foundation. Originally it was in a wing adjoining the Great Gate, but in the 1620s work was undertaken on a new building to house its growing collections. It is this building which forms the northern range of Third Court, and which is now known as the Old Library. The collections held in the Library have been assembled over five…read moreThe Cripps Building
The Cripps BuildingThe two courts which make up the Cripps Building (1966-67) face the back of New Court.This side of New Court was not originally intended to be seen, and the land behind it was used for structures such as the 1921 bathhouse which, when it was proposed, prompted one Fellow, Sir Joseph Larmor, to ask, "What do they want baths for? They're only here for eight weeks" (at a time!) The urgent need for…read moreThe Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of SighsThe Bridge of Sighs is an iconic feature of St John’s College, and one of the most recognisable pieces of architecture in Cambridge. Built nearly 200 years ago, it is the only covered bridge to cross the River Cam, and the only College bridge built in the Victorian Gothic style. Since its construction in 1831 it has featured in thousands of photographs and artistic projects, as well as…read moreThird Court
Third CourtThe Third Court was built in two stages. The old College Library, which forms the north range, was built in 1624. The west and south ranges followed in 1669-72 when the College had recovered from the Civil War, during which it had suffered at first from being a Royalist institution in a largely Parliamentary city. Features to notice:the Library was the gift of John Williams, Bishop of…read moreSecond Court
Second CourtSecond Court was built in the years immediately after 1599, to the designs of Ralph Symons of Westminster and Gilbert Wigg of Cambridge. Their drawings are still in the College's possession. Features to notice: the harmonious proportions and local brickwork of the Court in general; it is the finest example of this style of architecture in Cambridge. the Shrewsbury Tower in the west range.…read moreThe Chapel
The ChapelThe Chapel was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, who was evidently influenced by the thirteenth-century Sainte Chapelle in Paris, apart from the tower, which was an afterthought made possible by the promise of a former member of the College to pay for it - a promise unfulfilled because of his early death in a railway accident.Features to notice:the stained glass windows by the nineteenth…read moreFirst Court
First CourtYou are in the oldest part of the College. The College started here and over the years gradually spread westward. This court is mainly given over to accommodation, but also contains the Samuel Butler Room, a common room for graduate students. Alongside the Porters’ Lodge is a room containing pigeonholes where post is delivered. This gate is the main exit for those studying subjects who…read moreThe Great Gate
The Great GateThe Front Gate was completed in 1516.The carving is of the coat of arms of the Foundress, Lady Margaret Beaufort. The curious beasts on either side are yales, mythical animals having elephants' tails, antelopes' bodies and goats' heads, with horns which can supposedly swivel from back to front!Above is a statue of St. John the Evangelist: at his feet is an eagle, the traditional symbol of the…read moreVenues
VenuesFisher BuildingA modern purpose-built faciltiy ideally suited for conferences, meetings and corporate events.Auditorium with seating for up to 2503 seminar rooms for up to 50 peopleA selection of smaller meeting roomsConference office with IT and communications facilities, plus tea/coffeeReception desk and foyer area The HallA magnificent, 16th century building with a hammerbeam roof and…read morePrivate Dining
Private DiningDinners, wedding receptions and breakfasts, canapé parties, buffets, lunches and private dinners - whatever the occasion, be it Corporate or Family occasion, the magnificent dining rooms and grounds of St John's can provide the perfect setting.You can host an intimate dinner for up to 16 people in the Parsons room – or an impressive Dinner for up to 300 in the 16th century Hall. For receptions we…read moreListen Online
Listen OnlineThe Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge was the first Choir of its kind to broadcast weekly webcasts of its services and is the only British choir to do so throughout the year.read moreBoost for legacy giving in the 2011 Budget
Boost for legacy giving in the 2011 BudgetIn the Budget speech in March the Government announced a significant change to the taxation of bequests, designed to encourage legacy giving. A reduced rate of inheritance tax (IHT) will apply where 10 per cent or more of an estate (after deducting IHT exemptions, reliefs and the nil rate band) is left to charity. In those cases the current 40 per cent rate will be reduced to 36 per cent.…read moreStudent Unions
Student UnionsJCR (Student Union)All junior members of College, including the Graduates, are members of the Junior Combination Room or JCR.'JCR' also refers to the common room in 2nd Court, and is also a colloquial name for the JCRC, the committee that represents the JCR. The committe is elected in February and any undergraduates can stand for any position.The JCR Committee are an elected body of students who…read moreThe Wordsworth Society
The Wordsworth SocietyA group dedicated to philology, etymology and above all the appreciation of the English language with all its idiosyncrasies.Committee 2012-13President: James Browning (jb817)Junior Treasurer: Jenny Buckley (jrb79)Senior Treasurer: Dr Ruth Abbott (rha23)Other officers:Josh Hinton (jjh58)Cara Atkinson (cma45)Ed Kendall (ek393)read more